Council's Highway Madness Threatens ChalveyPart 1

SBC's Continuing Addiction to Spending Large Sums of Public Money

I see that Slough council is planning to make unwelcome change to the roads
in Chalvey. Predictably, none of the various options are wanted by local
residents or businesses. Pedestrianisation often blights areas - look at the
desolate Slough High Street - now totally inaccessible to the disabled and
elderly.

Other highway disasters by Slough council include the Long Readings Lane
debacle, (which is STILL not finished), the Cumberland Avenue saga and the
burning of trees on Upton Court Road during unnecessary resurfacing works.
Slough High Street's £8 million is a danger to pedestrians due to the toxic
mix of cyclists and pedestrians.

In my view, the problem is that the senior staff at the council are only
interested in spending the public's cash in order to enhance their cvs. For
the most part, they do not live in Slough and have little affinity for our town.
What are the councillors doing to monitor the staff and ensure that works are
carried out according to the wishes of the public? Why are councillors allowing
staff to spend such unnecessary sums during these difficult times? Do the three
Chalvey councillors appreciate the grave situation that the council is about to
impose on Chalvey at huge public expense and against the public's wishes?

Unfortunately, the councillors are simply not up to the job; in August 2009,
Amanda Fox of The Slough Party quoted research that suggested that 61% of
councillors are unable to fully understand official council reports presented
to them at meetings, while 41% of councillors experience difficulty in reading,
writing or speaking in English.

With staff running the council and no censure by councillors, democracy in
Slough is a complete sham.

As for Chalvey, save perhaps for some minor traffic light re-phasing along the
lines suggested by Mr. Haines, the council would be far better off to save the
money and leave well alone.

Tristan MilesSlough

21 June 2011

Council's Highway Madness Threatens ChalveyPart 2

SBC Bosses Refuse to Listen to the Residents they purport
to Serve

Its sheer Highway madness!

I heartily agree with Slough Express correspondent Rory Haines who condemns
the options for changes to Chalvey's roads. He is quite right; traffic should
be eased, not restricted. None of the various options are wanted by local
residents or businesses. Pedestrianisation often blights areas - look at the
desolate Slough High Street - now totally inaccessible to the disabled and
elderly.

I also agree with Colin Dutton in his Slough Express assessment that Slough
High Street's £8 million is a danger to pedestrians due to the toxic mix of
cyclists and pedestrians.

Other highway disasters by Slough council include the Long Readings Lane debacle,
(which is STILL not finished), the Cumberland Avenue saga and the burning of
trees on Upton Court Road during unnecessary resurfacing works.

In my view, the problem is that the senior staff at the council are only
interested in spending the public's cash in order to enhance their cvs. For
the most part, they do not live in Slough and have little affinity for our town.

What are the councillors doing to monitor the staff and ensure that works are
carried out according to the wishes of the public? Why are councillors allowing
staff to spend such unnecessary sums during these difficult times? Do the three
Chalvey councillors appreciate the grave situation that the council is about to
impose on Chalvey at huge public expense and against the public's wishes?

Unfortunately, the councillors are simply not up to the job; in August 2009,
Amanda Fox of The Slough Party quoted research that suggested that 61% of
councillors are unable to fully understand official council reports presented
to them at meetings, while 41% of councillors experience difficulty in reading,
writing or speaking in English.

With staff running the council and no censure by councillors, democracy in
Slough is a complete sham.

Tristan MilesSlough

We welcome your news, scandals, sleaze and corruption
stories – even if a few years old • Contact us